You should evaluate any and all sources you use for "research" according to the following criteria (per the American Library Association [1994] and Engeldinger [1988]):
- How was the source located? Online sources are less reliable than ones found in a library.
- What type of source is it? Online sources or sources from a single author might not be as reliable.
- Who is the author and what are the qualifications of the author in regard to the topic that is discussed? If the author has university-level education or significant life experience regarding the topic, s/he is more trustworthy.
- When was the information published? Newer publications may contain more accurate information.
- In which country was it published? Countries with a track record of censorship or propaganda are less trustworthy.
- What is the reputation of the publisher? Some publishers are out to make a buck and will publish anything a writer is willing to pay for. Academic publishers have standards.
- Does the source show a particular cultural or political bias? Consider whether other sources talking about the same topic offer different or additional facts.
More advice can be found from MLA's advice on Evaluation During Reading and Print vs Internet.
As "Researching with Wikipedia" advises, "Wikipedia can be a great tool for learning and researching information. However, as with all reference works, Wikipedia is not considered to be a reliable source as not everything in Wikipedia is accurate, comprehensive, or unbiased." The article offers wonderful advice for how to use Wikipedia for research responsibly.
- Online Reference Centre: This is a much better place to start your research than Google. Login: LA158; PW: 1204. Specifically, try:
- World History in Context
- Global Issues in Context
- Academic OneFile
- Etymonline: Explanations of where English words originated from, what they meant, and how they sounded as the language has evolved. This is particularly useful for studying older texts, such as Shakespearean plays.